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　to　Jingzhou　City。
Liu　Biao；　grateful　for　this　service；　rode　out　to　the　boundary　to　wele　the　victors。　They　reentered　the　city　and　grand　banquets　were　instituted；　at　which　they　emptied　great　goblets　in　congratulations　over　the　victory。

＇e＇　Yue；　Wu；　and　Shu　were　three　states　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　and　the　Warring　States　periods。　Yue　and　Wu's　territory　was　approximately　that　of　the　South　Land。　Shu　was　in　the　mountainous　region　west　of　Jingzhou。　。。。。。
At　one　of　these　banquets　the　Imperial　Protector　said；　〃With　such　heroism　as　my　brother　has　shown；　Jingzhou　has　one　upon　whom　to　rely。　But　a　source　of　sorrow　is　the　borders　with　the　lands　of　Yue；　Wu；　and　Shu*；　from　which　a　raid　may　e　at　any　time。　Zhang　Lu　of　Shu　and　Sun　Quan　of　Yue　and　Wu　are　to　be　feared。〃
〃But　I　have　three　bold　generals；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃quite　equal　to　any　task　you　can　set　them。　Send　Zhang　Fei　to　keep　ward　on　the　southern　border　of　Yue；　Guan　Yu　to　guard　the　city　of　Guzi　against　Zhang　Lu　in　the　west；　and　Zhao　Yun　holding　the　Three　Gorges　will　protect　you　from　Sun　Quan。　Why　need　you　grieve？〃
The　scheme　appealed　strongly　to　the　Imperial　Protector；　but　Cai　Mao　did　not　approve。
So　he　spoke　to　his　sister；　Liu　Biao's　wife；　saying；　〃Liu　Bei　is　putting　his　troops　in　such　manding　positions　all　round　the　region。　That　is　the　danger。〃
Lady　Cai；　thus　influenced　by　her　brother；　undertook　to　remonstrate；　and　that　night　began　by　saying　to　Liu　Biao；　〃Some　in　the　Jingzhou　army　seem　to　have　a　great　liking　for　Liu　Bei。　They　are　always　ing　and　going。　You　ought　to　take　precautions。　I　do　not　think　you　should　let　Liu　Bei　stay　in　the　city。　Why　not　send　him　on　some　mission？〃
〃Liu　Bei　is　a　good　man；〃　replied　the　Imperial　Protector。
〃I　think　others　differ　from　you；〃　said　the　lady。
Liu　Biao　said　nothing　but　muttered　to　himself。　Soon　after　he　went　out　of　the　city　to　see　Liu　Bei　and　noticed　he　was　riding　a　very　handsome　horse。　They　told　him　it　was　a　prize　taken　from　the　recently　conquered　rebels；　and　as　he　praised　it　very　warmly；　Liu　Bei　presented　it　to　him。　Liu　Biao　was　delighted　and　rode　it　back　to　the　city。　Kuai　Yue　saw　it　and　asked　where　it　had　e　from。　The　Imperial　Protector　told　him　it　was　a　gift　from　Liu　Bei。
Kuai　Yue　said；　〃My　passed…away　brother；　Kuai　Liang；　knew　horses　very　well；　and　I　am　not　a　bad　judge。　This　horse　has　tear…tracks　running　down　from　its　eyes　and　a　white　blaze　on　its　forehead。　It　is　called　a　Dilu　horse；　and　it　is　a　danger　to　his　master。　That　is　why　Zhang　Wu　was　killed。　I　advise　you　not　to　ride　it。〃
Liu　Biao　began　to　think。
Soon　after　he　asked　Liu　Bei　to　a　banquet　and　in　the　course　of　it　said；　〃You　kindly　presented　me　with　a　horse　lately；　and　I　am　most　grateful。　But　you　may　need　it　on　some　of　your　expeditions　and；　if　you　do　not　mind；　I　would　like　to　return　it。〃
Liu　Bei　rose　and　thanked　him。
The　Imperial　Protector　continued；　〃You　have　been　here　a　long　time；　and　I　fear　I　am　spoiling　your　career　as　a　warrior。　Now　Xinye　in　Xiangyang　is　no　poverty…stricken　town。　How　would　you　like　to　garrison　it　with　your　own　troops？〃
Liu　Bei　naturally　took　the　offer　as　a　mand　and　set　out　as　soon　as　he　could；　taking　leave　of　the　Imperial　Protector　the　next　day。　And　so　he　took　up　his　quarters　in　Xinye。
When　he　left　Jingzhou　City；　he　noticed　in　the　gate　a　person　making　him　emphatic　salutations；　and　the　man　presently　said；　〃You　should　not　ride　that　horse。〃
Liu　Bei　looked　at　the　man　and　recognized　in　the　speaker　one　of　the　secretaries　of　Liu　Biao　named　Yi　Ji；　a　native　of　Shanyang。　So　Liu　Bei　hastily　dismounted　and　asked　why。
Yi　Ji　replied；　〃Yesterday　I　heard　that　Kuai　Yue　told　the　Imperial　Protector　that　that　horse　was　a　Dilu　horse　and　brought　disaster　to　its　owner。　That　is　why　it　was　returned　to　you。　How　can　you　mount　it　again？〃
〃I　am　deeply　touched　by　your　affection；〃　replied　Liu　Bei；　〃but　a　person's　life　is　governed　by　fate；　and　what　a　horse　can　interfere　with　that？〃
Yi　Ji　admitted　his　superior　view；　and　thereafter　he　kept　in　touch　with　Liu　Bei　wherever　he　went。
The　arrival　of　Liu　Bei　in　Xinye　was　a　matter　of　rejoicing　to　all　the　inhabitants；　and　the　whole　administration　was　reformed。
In　the　spring　of　the　twelfth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　207）；　Liu　Bei's　wife；　Lady　Gan；　game　birth　to　a　son　who　was　named　Liu　Shan。　The　night　of　his　birth　a　crane　settled　on　the　roof　of　the　house；　screeched　some　forty　times　and　then　flew　away　westward。
Just　at　the　time　of　birth　a　miraculous　incense　filled　the　chamber。　Lady　Gan　one　night　had　dreamed　that　she　was　looking　up　at　the　sky；　and　the　constellation　of　the　Great　Bear　had　fallen　down　her　throat。　And　she　conceived　soon　after。
While　Cao　Cao　was　absent　from　the　capital　on　his　northern　expedition；　Liu　Bei　went　to　Liu　Biao　and　said　to　him；　〃Why　do　you　not　take　this　opportunity　to　march　against　the　capital？　An　empire　might　follow　from　that。〃
〃I　am　well　placed　here；〃　was　the　reply。　〃Why　should　I　attempt　other　things？〃
Liu　Bei　said　no　more。　Then　the　Imperial　Protector　invited　him　into　the　private　apartments　to　drink。　While　they　were　so　engaged；　Liu　Biao　suddenly　began　to　sigh　despondently。
〃O　brother；　why　do　you　sigh　thus？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃I　have　a　secret　sorrow　that　is　difficult　to　speak　about；〃　said　Liu　Biao。
Liu　Bei　was　on　the　point　of　asking　what　it　was　when　Lady　Cai　came　and　stood　behind　the　screen；　whereat　Liu　Biao　hung　his　head　and　became　silent。　Before　long　host　and　guest　bade　each　other　farewell；　and　Liu　Bei　went　back　to　his　own　place　at　Xinye。
That　winter　they　heard　that　Cao　Cao　had　returned　from　Liucheng；　and　Liu　Bei　sighed　when　he　reflected　that　his　friend　had　paid　no　heed　to　his　advice。
Unexpectedly　a　messenger　came　from　the　capital　city　with　a　request　that　Liu　Bei　would　go　thither　to　consult　with　the　Imperial　Protector。　So　he　started　at　once　with　the　messenger　to　Jingzhou　City。　He　was　received　very　kindly；　and　when　the　salutations　were　over；　the　two　men　went　into　the　private　quarters　at　the　rear　to　dine。
Presently　Liu　Biao　said；　〃Cao　Cao　has　returned；　and　he　is　stronger　than　ever。　I　am　afraid　he　means　to　absorb　this　region。　I　am　sorry　I　did　not　follow　your　advice　for　I　have　missed　an　opportunity。〃
〃In　this　period　of　disruption；　with　strife　on　every　side；　one　cannot　pretend　that　there　will　be　no　more　opportunities。　If　you　only　take　what　that　offers；　there　will　be　nothing　to　regret。〃
〃What　you　say；　brother；　is　quite　to　the　point；〃　replied　Liu　Biao。
They　drank　on　for　a　time　till　presently　Liu　Bei　noticed　that　his　host　was　weeping；　and　when　he　asked　the　cause　of　these　tears；　Liu　Biao　replied；　〃It　is　that　secret　sorrow　I　spoke　of　to　you　before。　I　wished　to　tell　you；　but　there　was　no　opportunity　that　day。〃
〃O　brother；　what　difficulty　have　you；　and　can　I　assist　you？　I　am　entirely　at　your　service。〃
〃My　first　wife；　of　the　Chen　family；　bore　me　a　son　Liu　Qi；　my　eldest。　He　grew　up　virtuous　but　weakly　and　unfitted　to　succeed　me　in　my　office。　Later　I　took　a　wife　of　the　Cai　family；　who　bore　me　a　son　named　Liu　Zong；　fairly　intelligent。　If　I　pass　over　the　elder　in　favor　of　the　younger；　there　is　the　breach　of　the　rule　of　primogeniture。　But　if　I　follow　law　and　custom；　there　are　the　intrigues　of　the　Cai　family　and　clan　to　be　reckoned　with。　Further；　the　army　is　in　the　hollow　of　their　hands。　There　will　be　trouble；　and　I　cannot　decide　what　to　do。〃
Liu　Bei　said；　〃All　experience　proves　that　to　set　aside　the　elder　for　the　younger　is　to　take　the　way　of　confusion。　If　you　fear　the　power　of　the　Cai　faction；　then　gradually　reduce　its　power　and　influence；　but　do　not　let　doting　affection　lead　you　into　making　the　younger　your　heir。〃
Liu　Biao　pondered　silent。　But　Lady　Cai　had　had　a　suspicion　why　her　lord　had　summoned　Liu　Bei　and　what　was　the　subject　of　discussion；　so　she　had　determined　to　listen　secretly。　She　was　behind　the　screen　when　the　matter　was　talked　over；　and　she　conceived　deep　resentment　against　Liu　Bei　for　what　he　had　said。
On　his　side；　Liu　Bei　felt　that　his　advice　had　fallen　upon　a　forbidden　subject；　and　he　arose　and　walked　across　the　room。　As　he　did　so　he　noticed　that　he　was　getting　heavy　and　stiff；　and　a　furtive　tear　stole　down　his　cheek　as　he　thought　of　the　past。　When　he　returned　and　sat　down；　his　host　noticed　the　traces　of　weeping　and　asked　the　cause　of　his　sorrow。
〃In　the　past　I　was　always　in　the　saddle；　and　I　was　slender　and　lithe。　Now　it　is　so　long　since　I　rode　that　I　am　getting　stout；　and　the　days　and　months　are　slipping　by………wasted。　I　shall　have　old　age　on　me　in　no　time；　and　I　have　acplished　nothing。　So　I　am　sad。〃
〃I　have　heard　a　story　that　when　you　were　at　Xuchang　at　the　season　of　green　plums；　you　and　Cao　Cao　were　discussing　heroes。　You　mentioned　this　name　and　that　to　him　as　humans　of　parts；　and　he　rejected　everyone　of　them。　Finally　he　said　that　you　and　he　were　the　only　two　persons　of　real　worth　in　the　whole　empire。　If　he　with　all　his　power　and　authority　did　not　dare　to　place　himself　in　front　of　you；　I　do　not　think　you　need　grieve　about　having　acplished　nothing。〃
At　this　flattering　speech　Liu　Bei；　as　wine　was　getting　the　better　of　him　and　in　a　half　maudlin　manner；　replied；　〃If　I　only　had　a　starting　point；　then　I　would　not　be　afraid　of　anyone　in　a　world　full　of　fools。〃
His　host　said　no　more　and　the　guest；　feeling　that　he　had　slipped　up　in　speech；　rose　as　if　drunk；　took　leave；　and　staggered　out　saying　he　must　return　to　his　lodging　to　recover。
The　episode　has　been　celebrated　in　a　poem：

When　with　crooking　fingers　counting；
Cao　Cao　reckoned　up　the　forceful
Humans　of　real　determination；
Only　two　he　found；　and　one　was
Liu　Bei。　But　by　inaction
He　had　grown　both　fat　and　slothful；
Yet　the　months　and　years　in　passing
Fretted　him　with　nought　acplished。

Though　Liu　Biao　kept　silence　when　he　heard　the　words　of　Liu　Bei；　yet　he　felt　the　more　uneasy。　After　the　departure　of　his　guest；　he　retired　into　the　inner　quarters　where　he　met　his　wife。
Lady　Cai　said；　〃I　happened　to　be　behind　the　screen　just　now　and　so　heard　the　words　of　Liu　Bei。　They　betray　scant　regard　for　other　people　and　mean　that　he　would　take　your　territory　if　he　could。　If　you　do　not　remove　him；　it　will　go　ill　with　you。〃
Her　husband　made　no　reply；　but　only　shook　his　head。
Then　Lady　Cai　took　counsel　with　her　kinsman　Cai　Mao；　who　said；　〃Let　me　go　to　the　guest…house　and　slay　him　forthwith；　and　we　can　report　what　we　have　done。〃
His　sister　consented　and　he　went　out；　and　that　night　told　off　a　party　of　soldiers　to　do　the　foul　deed。
Now　Liu　Bei　sat　in　his　lodging　by　the　light　of　a　single　candle　till　about　the　third　watch；　when　he　prepared　to　retire　to　bed。　He　was　startled　by　a　knock　at　his　door　and　in　came　Yi　Ji；　who　had　heard　of　the　plot　against　his　new　master　and　had　e　in　the　darkness　to　warn　him。　He　related　the　details　of　the　plot　and　urged　speedy　departure。
〃I　have　not　said　farewell　to　my　host。　How　can　I　go　away？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃If　you　go　to　bid　him　farewell；　you　will　fall　a　victim　to　the　Cai　faction；〃　said　Yi　Ji。
So　Liu　Bei　said　a　hasty　good…bye　to　his　friend；　called　up　his　escort；　and　they　all　mounted　and　rode　away　by　the　light　of　the　stars　toward　Xinye。　Soon　after　they　had　left　the　soldiers　arrived　at　the　guest…house；　but　their　intended　victim　was　already　well　on　his　way。
Naturally　the　failure　of　the　plot　chagrined　the　treacherous　Cai　Mao；　but　he　took　the　occasion　to　scribble　some　calumnious　verses　on　one　of　the　partitions。
Then　he　went　to　see　Liu　Biao　to　whom　he　said；　〃Liu　Bei　has　treacherous　intentions；　as　can　be　seen　from　some　lines　written　on　the　wall。　And　his　hurried　departure　is　suspicious。〃
Liu　Biao　felt　doubtful；　but　he　went　to　the　guest…house　and　there　on　the　wall　he　read　this　poem：

Too　long；　far　too　long　I　have　dreamed　life　away；
Gazing　at　scenery　day　after　day。
A　dragon　can　never　be　kept　in　a　pond；
He　should　ride　on　the　thunder　to　heaven　and　beyond。

Greatly　angered　by　what　he　read；　Liu　Biao　drew　his　sword　and　swore　to　slay　the　writer。　But　before　he　had　gone　many　paces；　his　anger　had　already　died　down；　and　he　said　to　himself；　〃I　have　seen　much　of　the　man；　but　have　never　known　him　write　verses。　This　is　the　handiwork　of　someone　who　wishes　to　sow　discord　between　us。〃
So　saying；　he　turned　back　and　with　the　point　of　his　sword　scraped　away　the　poem。　Then；　putting　up　his　sword；　he　mounted　and　rode　home。
By　and　bye　Cai　Mao　reminded　him；　saying；　〃The　soldiers　are　awaiting　your　orders　to　go　to　Xinye　and　arrest　Liu　Bei。〃
'There　is　no　hurry；〃　he　replied。
Cai